When Striving for Work-Life Balance, Workers Often Need Bosses to Come to the Rescue

ATLANTA, Aug. 12, 2015 – Employees’ ongoing struggle to balance work with time off is significantly impacted by their boss, according to Randstad US’ latest Employee Engagement Study. Randstad’s survey found more than one-third of U.S. employees (39%) don’t believe their bosses encourage them to take allotted vacation days, and almost half (45%) say their bosses don’t help them disconnect from work while on vacation.

With nearly half of employees (41%) believing work-life balance is impossible to achieve, Randstad’s study found the relationship between employees and employers is a vital factor that influences both vacation etiquette and overall workplace happiness. Employers who proactively maintain positive relationships with employees and encourage them to utilize allotted vacation time are more likely to boost company morale, reduce turnover and increase productivity, all of which can positively impact a company’s bottom line.

The U.S.Employee Engagement Study also uncovered:

• Vacations can be stressful: Nearly half of employees (49%) feel stressed after they return from vacation. In fact, 46 percent say they worry about work while on vacation.• Hold the vacation: More than 1 in 3 employees (38%) believe taking fewer vacations makes them look better in the eyes of their boss.• Change of plans: More than 1 in 3 employees (36%) have had to cancel vacation plans due to work.• Money does not (always) buy happiness: More than 1 in 4 employees (28%) would rather have a better boss than a $5,000 raise. Happiness is so important that more than 1 in 3 employees (36%) would give up $5,000 a year in salary to be happier at work.

“It’s essential employees feel empowered to take a break from their jobs, and managers should take note of these study findings to determine whether their company’s culture truly supports and allows the opportunity for this,” said Jim Link, Chief HR Officer, Randstad North America. “There is no doubt taking time off to unwind is healthy and ultimately better for the organization.

“Vacations make for more productive and engaged workers, and yet 42 percent of employees don’t believe their employers help them achieve work-life balance and 39 percent don’t feel their managers encourage them to utilize vacation time—therefore, bosses who proactively encourage workers to unplug, unwind and truly leave work behind to enjoy time off will be looked upon as workplace heroes.”

About Randstad US
Randstad US is a wholly owned subsidiary of Randstad Holding nv, a $22.9 billion global provider of HR services. As the third largest staffing organization in the United States, Randstad provides temporary, temporary-to-hire and permanent placement services each week to over 100,000 people through its network of more than 900 branches and client-dedicated locations. Employing over 5,300 recruiting experts, the company is a top provider of outsourcing, staffing, consulting and projects and workforce solutions within the areas of Engineering, Finance and Accounting, Healthcare, Human Resources, IT, Legal, Manufacturing & Logistics, Office & Administration, Pharma and Sales & Marketing.

Learn more at www.randstadusa.com and access Randstad’s panoramic U.S. thought leadership knowledge center through its Workforce360 site that offers valuable insight into the latest economic indicators and HR trends shaping the world of work.

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Ipsos on behalf of Randstad US from June 10-26, 2015 of 2,279 employed adults ages 18 and older. The data was weighted to the U.S. current population data by gender, age, education and ethnicity. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact katie.dressler@randstadusa.com.